JOKER #1 DC COMICS
I’m really on the fence about this one. The idea of a new Joker series featuring the current incarnation of the Clown Prince of Crime holds no hook for me. But James Tynion IV’s story doesn’t focus on the character. Issue #1 is the story of James Gordon and reads like a vintage detective story from the Golden Age of Radio. From the flashbacks (I absolutely adore the character of Danny Ryan.) to the mysteries left open from the massacre at Arkham Asylum, this story has tons of potential. It also deals with several aspects of real life that are uncomfortable which makes it hard to read but helps flush out some of the characters. In the end though, as the Joker enters the story, I actually think it loses something. If the story continues like it has been, I think it could be a great title but I’m not holding my breath. The other thing that bothers me is the new concept of having backup features (in this case Punchline). While DC has a long history of backup features, they were usually accompanied by an increased page count. So I lose 8 pages of book to a story that will, I’m sure, cross pathes with the main story in a few issues. For me this one was bald tires on a wet road. We’ll have to see what happens over the next few issues. So for the first time in Doc’s Corner history, I’m not giving this one a Graham count. We’ll need to reconvene in issue 3, see you then.
RED SONJA THE SUPERPOWERS #3 DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT
While I do appreciate the concepts being used here, I’m not keen on the long term story. The character of Red Sonja has gone through many incarnations but throughout those tales, Sonya has always come across as an intellegent fighter. The version of Sonja here seems to be more primative. Not in a “the Superpowers team has future technology” primative but more like “Me am Bizarro” primative. Along with the naivete of this subsection of the Superpowers team, left me empty and unbelieving. Now, I will be tuning in next issue as Sonja is turned loose in the Superpowers headquarters as hilarity will most definately ensue. But as for the over all feel to the book, the initial charm is over. I give it a 6 out of 10 Grahams.
